Snap ring assembling tool



Aug, 29, 1944. J SEME 2,357,139

' SNAP RING ASSEMBLJING TOOL Filed July 1, 1945 I I INVENTOR.

. BY Jb/l/VJSf/VE Patented Aug. 29, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SNAP RING ASSEMBLING TOOL John J. Seine, Maple Heights,hio, assignor, by mesne assignments; to, Jack & Heintz, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application July 1, 1943, Serial No. 492,986

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in hand spring retaining clips into sockets for retaining assemblies together in position within the socket. With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention resides in the combination of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter set forth in the following specification and appended claims, certain embodiments thereof being illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a view in section taken through the bas and socket and the hollow splined barrel of the tool, the hand splined plunger part of the tool being shown in elevation and out of the barrel, and also showing the spring clip in full lines just entering the tapered portion of the barrel. Figure 1a is a detailed View of the split snap rmg. I

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the plunger in the barrel but not fully home and showing the spring clip just short of engaging the socket.

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the clip confined within the inner boundary of the inwardly extending flange of the socket.

Figure 4 is a similar view showing the spring clip sprung into the socket past the flange and past the end of the plunger, and also showing a subassembly of parts retained by the spring clip.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, there is shown a fragment of a housing I having a socket 2 to receive such a sub-assembly as an air base connection including a hollow washer 3 and a hollow flanged nipple 4 to receive a hose 5. As shown in Figure 4, this subassembly is shown retained in proper position by a split spring clip,

or spring retaining ring 6 which fits in th annular groove .1 of greater diameter than the remainder of the socket and the inwardly extending circular flange 8 which forms the upper rim of the socket.

Heretofore, it has been conventional practice to insert these spring clips into position in the sockets by hand or with the aid of such tools as screw drivers or the like. The spring clips, being split, are necessarily of greater normal diameter than the inner diameter of flange-8 or groove 1. Such a hand operation is not only diflicult but laborious and slow and tiresome on the muscles of the hand and arm.

In order to overcome the difiiculties attending hand operation, the invention contemplates the use of a hand tool including a. hollow barrel 9 and a plunger including a hand piece I 0 and splined portion ll of uniform diameter throughout its length. The hollow barrel is also splined and has an upper portion I2 of uniform diameter while the lower portion I3 is inwardly tapered to a reduced diameter at its lower end.

In operation, the spring clip 6 may be loosely dropped into the barrel to assume the position shown in Figure 1. The plunger is then inserted into the barrel in such a manner that the lower bevelled portion Id of the plunger abuts and is encircled by the spring clip. Further downward hand pressure on the hand portion ID of the plunger pushes the spring clip downwardly through the tapered portion I; of the barrel and the net result is the compressing of, the spring clip in such a manner as to reduce its over-all diameter.

Figure 2 shows the spring clip pressed downwardly to a position just short that of the circular flange 8. Further pressure shows the spring clip in maximum compressed form and within the confines of the circular flange 8. Figure 4 shows the spring clip sprung past the flange 8 and within the groove 1 in such a position as to retain the subassembly in proper position.

It will be noted that in Figure 4, while the spring clip is in the groove 1, the outside diameter of the splines of the plunger are such as to abut the flange 8 at the same time that the shoulder l5 of the hand portion of the plunger rests on the upper portion of the barrel so as to constitute a limiting stop for the plunger within the barrel.

In actual experiment, in order .to accom plishthe desired result, it has been found that the angle of taper of the splines of the barrel as well as the angle of .the bevel M on the lower extremity of the plunger are critical. The actual action of the tool is such that the portion [4 preferably bevelled at a angle, does not go beyond the flange 8 and that the snap ring actually leads the bevelled portion, due to the critical angle thereof, and snaps into place 'in the groove 1 once it gets past the lower edge of the flange 8.

I claim:

1. In a hand tool for forcing split snap retaining rings into sockets for retaining sub-assemblies in position, said tool comprising a hollow tapered splined barrel and a splined plunger having a uniform diameter, said barrel including a plurality of splines spaced around the inner periphery thereof, each spline extending longitudinally of and having their bottom surface parallel with the axis of the barrel, forming ribs providing said taper and said plunger having splines to receive said ribs, said spline forming ribs on said plunger whose outer surfaces are parallel with the axis of the plunger and together form said uniform diameter, said plunger being operable to force the ring through said barrel and into reduced diameter and into a groove in said socket into expanded retaining position.

2. In a hand tool for forcing split snap retaining rings into sockets for retaining sub-assemblies in position, said tool comprising a hollow tapered splined barrel and a splined plunger having a uniform diameter, said barrel including a plurality of splines spaced around the inner periphery thereof, each spline extending longitudinally of and having their bottom surface parallel with the axis of the barrel, forming ribs providing said taper and said plunger having splines to receive said ribs, said splines forming ribs on said plunger whoseouter surfaces are parallel with the axis of the plunger and together form said uniform diameter, said plunger being operable to force the ring through said barrel and into reduced diameter and into a groove in said socket into expanded retaining position, said plunger having its bottom portion bevelled at such a predetermined angle and limiting means on said plunger for so limiting its travel that said ring is forced in advance of said plunger and snaps into expanded condition into place within said socket while the plunger is restrained by said limiting means from entering the socket.

JOHN J. SEME. 

